Exclusive: Museveni Orders ISO’s Bagyenda on Sage Houses

President Museveni has ordered Internal Security Organisation (ISO) to close all safe houses being used to torture people.

The head-of-State directed ISO boss  Col Kaka Bagyenda to “immediately close those things.”

Museveni told Kaka that “safe houses are meant to keep people who are friendly to us,” adding, “They are not meant for torturing and detaining criminals.”

The president made the order on February 24 during a security meeting at State House Entebbe.

The meeting was attended by Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwiine, Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi, Deputy Police Chief Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi, Internal Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odong and head of Military Intelligence Brig Abel Kandiho among others.

The meeting was called to discuss Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s demands for closure an Non-governmental Organisation, SelfWorth Initiative for reportedly supporting Rwandan dissidents.

Since Bagyenda was in attendance, Museveni used the opportunity to tell him to act on safe houses.

Military personnel guarding various security installations last year blocked legislators from accessing and inspecting ‘safe houses’, a generic term for alleged torture chambers run by the ISO.

The lawmakers sought to establish alleged human rights violations happening there.

Gen Tumwine said they would not visit the facilities.

MPs listened to several people who claimed being detained and tortured in safe houses in various parts of the country.

Gen Tumwine told the Human Rights Committee of Parliament that safe houses owned by government were used for intelligence purposes and for providing safety to insecure individuals.

“The safe houses are not being used for torture; we have never sat down in our security council to condone detention erroneously or encourage torture,” he said.

Gen Tumwine said safe houses were used to coordinate clandestine operations and for surveillance of hardcore criminals. 

He noted, however, that the government was willing to take action against any officer who illegally takes someone to the safe house and tortures them.

“Some staff whose names we cannot state are on suspension or undergoing disciplinary action for misusing these safe houses,” he added.

Museveni acts

But during the meeting at State House, Tumwiine and Bagyenda were told by the President that ‘safe houses’ should never be used to hold people.

“That’s not the job of safe houses,” said Museveni, adding, “They are for protecting our allies.”

The president’s decision comes against the backdrop of increased public concern that ISO was continuing to torture people with impunity.

Some of the people illegally held by ISO include Phoebe Kiddu a member of a splinter group, National Resistance Movement for Justice. She accused ISO of torture.

The law deters serving officers and employees of the internal agency from arresting anyone.

Lawyer Patrick Machika Mugisha and James Mullika were also held in a safe house.

The duo was arrested after Police failed to make headway in investigations pertaining to the conning of a one Samuel Muwanguzi aka Biyinzika of 500 million shillings.

Museveni told the meeting that he doesn’t want to hear again about criminals or suspects being held in ‘safe houses’.